Dynamic presentation generator

ABSTRACT

A computer aided workstation programmed to facilitate and enhance the process for creating complex graphics and associated presentation design through the use of multiple software tools/agents in conjunction with retail presentation products. 
     Critical branding/theme characteristics are seamlessly established during the Build process by software/program controls. A high quality, professional presentation can be achieved with minimal training or software knowledge/skill set.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a data processing,program controlled system for developing enhanced presentations forspeaking engagements and the like. More particularly, the presentinvention provides a collection of tools and controls that substantiallystreamline the process of creating, editing and finalizing professionalquality, computer generated presentations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern corporate life is now periodically punctuated with meetingshaving as a centerpiece a computer generated presentation utilizingpresentation graphics programs, such as PowerPoint® by Microsoft®,Presentations® by Corel®, and others. The subject of the presentationsis unlimited, spanning almost every aspect of professional businessactivity, from simple sales pitches to sophisticated analysis ofpotential take-over candidates. The common theme to these presentationsis the need for eye-catching graphics and text, dispersed with thecore—but sometimes less appealing—data.

The modem retail presentation software package has evolved to a highlyfunctional, incredibly powerful and versatile presentation slidecreator, with hundreds of possible variations for presentation styles.Indeed, the level of operating sophistication of the packages rendersthem almost unusable without dozens if not hundreds of hours of practiceor training. While these retail products often include a separatepackage of style templates to ease and simplify operation, navigationthrough these templates themselves is an incredibly tricky process.

For larger entities, such as corporations, and other institutions, thereis a hidden risk associated with widespread use of these presentationpackages. It is important to note that these presentations are fortransferring information, some of it sensitive, and the rest typicallyimpacting the overall impression of the institution in the eye of thepresentation audiences. Clearly, corporations and others are concernedwith content and wish to present a common, structured impressionwhenever representatives are active in presentations on behalf of theinstitution. This issue is particularly acute for presentation packages,known as “pitch books” used to promote a corporate service offering.These pitch books are often provided with details and may lastsignificantly past the initial presentation. Thus, it is critical thatthe appearance remain and provide a powerful and positive theme.

And finally, the actual content that is imported to the presentation isitself found in a myriad of legacy data types—spreadsheets, databases,information from data vendors, etc. This data is not uniformly storedand often, very dynamic, such as security price data and corporatevaluations.

For large corporations, the above issues are typically addressed bydevoting a dedicated staff of well trained presentation creators,available to the sales and management teams, to assist in custombuilding of individual presentations for select occasions. Theseindividuals are highly skilled in the graphics capabilities of theretail presentation software and, more importantly, can impart a common“look and feel” to each disparate presentation that is a positivereflection on the corporation.

Of course, there are problems with this arrangement, beyond the mereexpense of a dedicated staff. For one, these individuals often lack theintimate details of the presentation and its underlying purpose.Moreover, the creation timeline is often extended as the presentationbecomes an iterative process, interrupting and/or delayed by interveningevents. This often prevents use of these talented creators for thesmaller, less critical presentations, which are thereafter left to theindividual presenters to fight through the layers of programming tocomplete their slides. This is an important problem as these smallerpresentations far outnumber the big ones, and, in sum, may impactexternal perceptions in a greater way.

It was the recognition of the above problems by the inventors that hasled to the development of the presentation enhancement system disclosedand described in detail infra.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system forpreparing individual presentations in conjunction with a retailpresentation software package that is simple, easy to operate yetproduces a sophisticated presentation having a common look and feelsanctioned by the supporting institution.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a computersystem and software package that includes selectively tailored templatesthat simplify the presentation creation process in a custom manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a templatefor use in a graphics software package that includes embedded code tofacilitate the generation of custom slides.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide asoftware platform that is network based and designed to facilitate theintegration of presentation data with select presentations wherein thedata is taken from a remote application and server.

It is still another object of the present invention to seamlessly linkdata from programs, e.g., spreadsheet, to fill a properly formattedslide with salient data within a custom structured presentation.

It is a further object of present invention to provide a software basedsolution to effect consistent and powerful brand identification inassociation with presentation slides, wherein the branding componentsare added in a seamless and efficient process.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provideenvironmental tools for use in conjunction with a retail presentationgraphics program to streamline the preparation of sophisticated,professional quality presentations having a common theme/brand thereinwith the construction completed without significant training orexperience.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a softwareagent known as the “Assistant” to automatically check and assure thatformatting is consistent across plural slides within a presentation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a softwareagent to automatically create select slides for insertion into thepresentation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a softwareagent in the slide creation process, known as the Assistant that tracksshapes and associated properties thereof to assist in the presentationbuilding process. It is still another object of the present invention toprovide a data processing method that permits a lightly trained user todevelop complex presentations that include selectively embeddeddatabases in a multiple slide format that further comprises integrationof custom slides with slides from a template database each conveying acommon branding theme.

It is yet another object of the present invention to include programmingin a data processing platform that restricts and/or inhibits selectedfunctionality of the retail presentation program.

The above and other objects of the present invention are realized in anovel data processing platform and processing method configured toenhance and formalize sophisticated presentation graphics. In a firstillustrative embodiment, a programming tool set is provided for use inconjunction with a retail presentation graphics package. Arepresentative package and the preferred platform for the presentinvention is the PowerPoint® product distributed by Microsoft® Inc. Thetools and supplemental programming associated with the present inventioninclude formatting software for structuring the presentation slide,including ancillary graphics and branding characteristics, a templateand logo library, global presentation context template and related toolsfor maintaining presentation integrity. In addition, selectivelyconfigured USER assistance programs (software agents) are provided toenhance user access and implementation of the presentation developmenttools.

In accordance with the varying aspects of the present invention, thesoftware tool set and associated platform and data files are furthersupplemented by a separate tool known as PresLink. In particular,PresLink includes as part of its feature set, the capability toseamlessly connect remote data sources, such as spreadsheets, to a newlydeveloped presentation for use in one or more slides thereof. Inparticular, PresLink configures the remote data and establishes thenetwork links to facilitate the data transfer—either static ordynamic—to become part of and to conform in appearance to thepresentation under development. Specifically, PresLink ensures that thedata tables, once transferred, are inserted with the proper level offormatting information to maintain the common branding appearance andstyle consistent with governing corporate policy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a more complete understanding of the specific embodiments, FIGS.1-31 are provided as illustrations relating to the practice of thepresent invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the network operatingenvironment preferred for the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-C are logic flow charts depicting the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts the PresBuilder Toolbar; and

FIGS. 4-31 provide an illustrative presentation created with the presentinvention.

FIG. 32 depicts an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First in general overview, the product and system of the presentinvention is generally known as PresBuilder, with this term generallyencompassing the features and capabilities provided by the inventivesoftware tool set and associated with building sophisticatedpresentations. As with the underlying PowerPoint® product, PresBuilderenvisions on a basic level, the use of multiple slides supporting eithera projection based presentation (“projection scheme”) or a handoutpresentation (“print scheme”). There is a large body of existingcommercial literature discussing PowerPoint® and its operation. Whilenot a substantive limitation to this disclosure, we hereby incorporateby reference the Office/PowerPoint® user guide, as a reference work forunderstanding the current advancements.

PresBuilder simplifies the creation of both by applying pre-packagecolor schemes to the same foundation slide set. This foundation slideset is the presentation template and includes the following individualslides:

-   -   1. Title slide    -   2. Table of Content slide    -   3. Tab slide    -   4. Standard Content slide

Slide organization is directed at generated common themes and universalbranding. The Standard Content Slide is the universal template for eachsucceeding slide in the presentation, i.e., the starting point forbuilding individual slides on diverging subject areas. The StandardContent Slide in a preferred mode, is a PowerPoint® template that isfurther enhanced with embedded information that works in conjunctionwith system software. For example and by way of illustration only,managed shapes are used in the Slide Header, Section Header, Sub Header,and Slide Number as applied to the standard content slide. In contrast,shapes used to populate the “content” section of the slide arenon-managed. The various features forming slide topology are discussedin further detail, infra. Collectively, the style elements found in thepreparation of each slide are user selected; however, a stored “StyleGuide” is provided that includes guidelines for select aestheticconsiderations, such as location of color, font, etc. This style guidewill provide information, tutorials and guidance that conformsspecifically to the needs of the industry or market addressed by thepresentation.

In the following description, the term “shape” is used to genericallyinclude objects found in a presentation graphics package (PowerPoint)slides, such as the slide header, a chart (static or dynamic), a tableor similar. In this context, the system stores a configuration file thatincludes a property set (width, font, size, etc.) for each shape in aslide. This property set can be established and stored by the process of“tagging.” Tagged sets are created, stored and used by a software agent,known as the Assistant to assist in the slide review process. Compliantshapes have a property set that match the tagged properties for thatshape. Managed shapes comprise tagged property sets that cannot bealtered without special keys. Because these special keys, or“administration” level rights, preclude most users from adjusting theparameters of managed shapes, continuity in these slides is assured. Inthis way, a corporation can maintain branding uniformity by maintainingselect shape properties as “managed,” thus involatile as a part ofcompany policy.

As mentioned above, the system operates in conjunction with selectsoftware agents to assist in the developing presentation. A coresoftware agent is known as the “Assistant.” The Assistant provides themain functionality associated with the presentation building process andfurther ensures consistency within the presentation by identifying andfixing non-compliant shapes. Specifically, the Assistant allows the userto:

-   -   1. modify the properties of the slide,    -   2. “Tag” shape properties, and    -   3. locate and fix non-compliant shapes.

An important function of the Assistant involves Tagging of slideproperties. Tagging is a save/storage process that collects the“current” or “default” properties of a shape and stores these in theAssistant Tagged file. For example, Assistant Tagged properties can fallwithin the following illustrative categories for a slide:

-   -   1. Slide Type—Identifies the type of slide selected from        “title,” “table of contents,” “Tab,” or “standard content.”    -   2. Shape—Identifies whether it is managed or not managed.    -   3. Shape Properties—Font, color, lines, position, size, etc.

Tagged shapes have enhanced flexibility in use. Changes can be made tothe shape properties; however, these changes can be quickly revertedback to the initial tagged values seamlessly. In this context, anon-compliant shape refers to a shape that has a current property setthat differs from the stored tagged set for that shape. This can arisein several ways. For example, reformatting a tagged shape, withoutupdating, creates a non-compliant shape as a discrepancy developsbetween the current and tagged property set.

Importantly, the Assistant operates both to identify non-compliantshapes and to correct these, either globally or through individualadjustments of shape properties. Invocation of the Assistant triggers adisplay box that highlights properties of an individual shape that arein non-compliance (typically, these properties are depicted in red;compliant properties in blue). Prompts provide for converting thenon-compliant values to compliant values consistent with the currentTags. In this way, Users can easily review changes that have been madeby other Users and either accept the changes or easily revert them backto the original settings.

A separate feature of the present invention resides in its ability toimport charts and tables into a presentation using a linking program.Application of this feature requires the use of pre-formatted slides,known as Model slides. The slide builder enables the easy insertion ofbranded charts and tables into generally accepted positions within aslide. For example, rather than just inserting a slide, Users can easilybuild slides and insert shapes into consistent locations on one or moreslides thereby maintaining a standard format across the presentation.These slides include formatting codes and property sets that conform tothe purposes of the selected model. Model slides may be created andstored in a library available for selection and insertion into apresentation. Exemplary slides include Text and Tables, Team Page,Charts (standard and special), Diagrams, Qualifications, and GridLayouts.

Importantly, the system mandates that Model slides are used to receivecharts to ensure that color/size are properly formatted. A wide range ofcharting styles, e.g., bar, pie, column, etc., may be pre-formatted intothe library of Model slides thus substantially simplifying thechart/slide creation process. In addition, a software tool known asSlideBuilder streamlines the slide assembly process while preserving thebranding attributes in the presentation. This tool operates in accordwith typical “wizard” based conventions, but with a greatly expandedrepertoire of functions specific to the industry/business of the User.Specifically, SlideBuilder accesses multiple formats and templatescustom for that client and allows for higher quality slide structures.Once selected, custom layouts are constructed for easy insertion ofbulleted lists, charts, and tables. Using automated aspect ratio controlfor charts reduces improper or distorting chart stretching when importedinto the Slide. This functionality is also applied to Tables.SlideBuilder further permits re-use of pre-existing slides into anupdated presentation.

Client logos are often an important cosmetic in any presentation, andmandate precise use. The system includes a client logo library, specificto that industry and functionality to ensure that the logo is properlypositioned with the presentation (a “footer,” “cover” or “content”selection is provided).

Two modes exist for populating the chart with data. The preferred methodis using the software tool discussed earlier known as PresLink. Thisautomates the transfer from a selected existing Excel® table.Alternately, the data can be manually entered. For graphs, andspecifically graphs involving high quality price/earnings data, aseparate software application known as ActiveGraph® is used. Thiscommercially available software tool combines the powerful analyticalengine and access to large data stores and the facility to linkcorporate legacy programs with the presentation graphics slide. Menudriven prompts delineate the particulars of the graphed data for use inthe slide, e.g., time period, interval, CUSIP, tickers, etc. Advancedprocessing analytics prepare the data for select organization on thegraph as applied to the appropriate model slide.

Tables are inserted into Model slides in a similar fashion. Tables areimported in a picture based format. The principal importation mechanismis a tool called PresLink, a custom spreadsheet linking tool for Excel®(or other) spreadsheet-based data. Tables may also be taken from a wordprocessor. The word processor is preferably Word® by Microsoft® becausethe formatting conventions are consistent with PowerPoint® presentationgraphics, making movement into a Model slide essentially seamless.

Spreadsheet linking allows users to seamlessly create data-based chartsand tables conforming to the formats associated with the presentationgraphics software or typical word processing software, e.g., Word®. ThePresLink software tool accomplishes this functionality and comprisescode to establish a custom Toolbar, File Manager, Help Wizard, andLinking Menu to guide user operations. This tool is illustrativelydemonstrated here using Excel® based spreadsheets, and creates dynamiclinks so that changes in the data stored within the spreadsheet will betransferred to the presentation. In a preferred arrangement, asingle-click menu icon allows for instant “refresh” of the importedgraph or chart from the originating application (e.g., Excel®).

Consistent with the common branching objective of the present invention,the spreadsheet linking tool applies stored table formats to spreadsheetoutput in the Table building process. To achieve this, a presentationbuild menu is configured into the menu bar for Excel® which includesfunctions to apply a select Table format, update the Colors Palette,Reapply Last Style, (undo style) and Toggle Gridlines. The Table Formatmenu triggers multiple entries, including style choices for Headings,Rows, Subtotal, Total, Highlights, and box attributes (thin or thick).Once the proper formats are applied to the selected data ranges in thespreadsheet, the “Table” is available for export to the presentationgraphics software and placement into a slide as a Shape. This isaccomplished by the linking tool and triggered by a menu entry off thespreadsheet toolbar, e.g., “Export Range to PowerPoint” oralternatively, to Word “Export Range to Word.” The Tool takes theselected and formatted data range and transfers this using the filemanager to the PowerPoint shape directory for use in PowerPoint, butstored as a picture file for use.

In addition to the above-noted capabilities, the present invention fullyutilizes the extensive tools, guides and wizards already a part of theretail presentation graphics' product. These extant tools are incrediblyrich and powerful and become an important asset in the overallcapabilities of the enhanced system of the present invention.Specifically, these enhancements apply state of the art nomenclaturesand “assist” techniques to the specific programming features of thepresent invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts the hardware componentsof the present invention in hardware terms. The general hardwareplatform is a PC-based network, linking multiple PC workstations (10)with plural servers for controlling communication, storing content andprocessing data. Specifically, an illustration of a corporate networkinfrastructure, PC (10) is connected to a local server (30) and secondservers (20), via Novell and/or Microsoft network protocols. Also linkedto the network are Main Server (mainframe—legacy programs) (40) one ormore databases (50) and other workstations (60) configured to operate inthis environment. It is preferable that the network is further equippedwith a document management software package to properly control accessto database libraries, etc. Not shown but implied are links to tradingexchanges, external offices, data vendors (e.g., Bloombergs®, Reutersg®)and the Internet.

Within this structure, workstations are equipped with retail-basedpresentation graphics' software and the inventive tool set for enhancedoperation of this software. One or more legacy application(s) reside onthe mainframe (40) available for access and use in thegraphs/charts/tables during the presentation build cycle.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2C, an illustrative flow chart is presenteddepicting the processing logic associated with the present invention.Typically, the Presentation Build process is accomplished on a suitablyprogrammed and configured workstation within a network environment, asdiscussed above. Logic begins with system Start block 100 and theselection of a presentation, PMT(I); at test 110, the system queries ifthe selected presentation is new or previously developed. If new (“Yes”to test 110), logic branches to block 140 and the system loads defaultparameters to initially populate the presentation with storedconfiguration data, default (I). Thereafter, the system automaticallyconstructs the Title slide, block 150, the Table of Contents slide;block 160, and an initial Tab slide, block 170. If, however, PMT(I) isan existing presentation, the system checks to see if the presentationalready conforms to the system embedded configuration. If conversion isneeded (“Yes” to test 120), the presentation configuration data isconverted to a conforming set, block 130.

Logic thereafter continues to block 180 and the loading of the StandardContent slide, Standard (I, 1) for the initial, post-Table of Contentsslide entry. As loaded, this slide is a blank slate, ready for customdesign. This process begins by selecting a “Model” slide from thetemplate library (“Yes” to test 190) for use, depending on the nature ofcontent to be added.

As previously noted, the Model slides reside in a library and provideselectively constructed templates that are designed for industryspecific content. For example, in the financial industry, brokeragehouses are often involved in promoting highly focused, but complexinvestment services to large institutional clients. This is facilitatedby use of “pitch books,” i.e., slide presentations that capture thefeatures and benefits of the services offered to that client.Accordingly, for the brokerage house, the library of Model slides willbe largely dedicated to template having characteristics of that stylepitch book content, including such items as a roster of team members,and graphs and tables reflecting past deals and return performance, etc.It is likely that other industries will have a different set ofpresentation needs, and thus, it is important that the Model slidelibrary be populated by slide styles that conform to the presentationneeds for that industry, e.g., aerospace, semiconductor, manufacturing,charitable fund raising, lobbying consultants, news organizations, andthe like.

Continuing with FIG. 2B, a Model slide is selected from the library,block 200, and inserted into the presentation, block 210. Alternatively,a non-model slide may be selected and inserted, via test 220 and blocks230-240.

Once inserted, the Model slide may be crafted to its intended purposeswith the addition of one or more shapes. As discussed earlier, bothStandard and Model slides begin with preformatted shapes correspondingto headers/footers, etc. This ensures proper and consistent brandingthroughout the presentation. In addition, tables, charts and text may beadded and additional software tools, such as ActiveGraph® (commerciallyavailable) and PresLink exist to facilitate this process. This processis generically depicted in FIG. 2B, starting at 250 with the “Add Shape”test. A positive response branches logic to block 260 and the selectedshape is inserted. Test 270 offers the user the option to modify Shape(I), with edits entered at block 280.

Turning now to FIG. 2C, the system Assistant may be invoked at test 290.At block 300, the Shape is selected and the Assistant compares theassociated property set, block 310. If in compliance (“Yes” to test320), logic continues to store command, block 330. However, if the shapeis not in compliance, the user can bring it into compliance, test 325and block 325. This process is repeated for each shape selected in thepresentation.

The PresBuilder Toolbar is depicted in FIG. 3 and otherwise appearsacross the top of the display during a presentation build session. Thearray provides eleven selectable buttons for invoking various elementsof the PresBuilder operation. Tab 350 invokes the PresBuilder Assistant,discussed previously to facilitate shape control within the Slides. Tab355 includes drop down menu selections to build or insert Slidesdirectly. Tab 360 provides a drop down menu to a custom selection ofshapes for insertion. Icons 365 present a selection of standard colors,etc. acceptable for use in the Slide. Icon 370 toggles the current slidebetween color/style attributes for print (pitchbook) and projection.Similarly, Icon 380 toggles the display of Slide numbers. Icon 375adjusts or creates Table of Content and Tab pages. Icon 390 resets theshape properties to the default settings. Tab 385 corrects bulletedtext. Tab 400 drops a menu of commands to control alignment anddistribution of shapes within the Slide. And finally, Tab 395 accessessystem Help functions. In this Figure, block descriptors are providedabove and below the toolbar indicating the functionality for each buttonand/or icon. These descriptors are not on-screen, but are otherwiseavailable in content through the help system.

EXAMPLE

The foregoing principles are further elaborated in the followingexample. In this example, a sample presentation is constructed for afinancial firm, comprising 28 slides. These display screens associatedin this build process are found at FIGS. 4 to 31.

This example provides a presentation involving sophisticated graphics,tables, charts, and a common branching theme suggesting creation by aprofessional graphics company or department. This illustration, whilemade by the inventors' staff and not investment bankers, per se, wasconstructed using the foregoing software and system operations. In thisexample, a pitch book is prepared for a potential client XYZ, by theinvestment bankers, Lehman Brothers.

The creation process follows the protocols described above. A templateis pulled from the library, comprising some common graphic elementstypical for this kind of presentation. In addition, system parameterstrigger the creation of Title slide, Table of Contents, and initial Tabslide. Thereafter, individual slides are sequentially created with theModel slide ensuring a common theme in each; see, e.g., Captionplacement and Title bar thickness in pages 6-12. Operation proceeds witheach slide in sequence, and typically involves invocation of the slidebuilder tool as discussed previously. Format selection is dictated bySlide content in terms of shapes, logos, tables, charts, etc. Slidesinclude pre-formatted templates (e.g., “team”) or “logo” slides). Tablesand charts are created in their native programs, such as Excel® andautomatically formatted to comply with branching colors, etc., so as tomatch the formatting elements of the template selected through thelinking process.

As demonstrated by this example, a detailed sophisticated presentationcan be developed that further includes a common branching theme andappointments rendering a cohesive presentation. The inventive platformprovides the tools and programming that permits persons withoutsignificant background in graphics presentation work to achieve clear,crisp presentations that have a professional quality to their overallappearance.

FIG. 32 depicts aspects of an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention. Processor 3210 implements a stored program directed topresentation graphics. Processor 3210 preferably is programmed toimplement one or more software agents 3240 for enhancing and automatinga presentation design sequence. Agent(s) 3240 include(s) programming3250 for developing a common branding theme through multiple slides andseamlessly generating a common appearance through the multiple slides,which collectively comprise a unified presentation. Database 3220preferably stores a library of Model slides 3230 having specificattributes to corporate-based identifying and/or industry relatedthemes.

The above description is merely illustrative of select embodiments ofthe present invention and does not, in any way, act to restrict thevariations available to accomplish the inventive features therein. Theforegoing inventions are solely limited by the appended claims on thispatent.

1. A computer aided design workstation configured with communicationlinks to select database storage comprising: (a) a processor forimplementing a stored program directed to presentation graphics; saidprocessor further programmed to implement one or more software agentsfor enhancing and automating a presentation design sequence; said agentincluding programming for developing a common branding theme throughmultiple slides and seamlessly generating a common appearance throughsaid multiple slides wherein said multiple slides collectively comprisea unified presentation; and (b) a database for storing a library ofModel slides having specific attributes to corporate-based identifyingand/or industry related themes; wherein said presentation softwareagents include programming for automatically creating Title, Table ofContent, and Standard Content slides during an initial phase of saidsequence; wherein shapes can be added to Model slides having a commonproperty set in compliance with a stored configuration file; and whereinsaid shapes are classified as either in compliance or non-compliantdepending on whether a shape's associated property set matches a pre-setconfiguration file for that shape.